Mayor Ron Meer of Michigan City faces five felony counts of intimidation, two counts of false informing and felony misconduct, court records show.

The dispute with the police department began after the recent arrest of Meer’s stepson on drug charges – an arrest that Meer claims was politically motivated, South Bend’s WNDU-TV reported.

Shortly after police Chief Mark Swistek and two assistant chiefs resigned, with Swistek alleging the mayor had ordered him to pull an unspecified number of officers out of the department’s anti-drug task force. A new police chief was named Tuesday.

After Meer was charged, the judge assigned to his case recused himself because his wife works as corporate council for the city.

It looks like crime has become a big issue in the Michigan City Mayor’s race.

Court documents show incumbent Ron Meer faces six felony counts for intimidation and official misconduct, and two misdemeanors for false informing “resulting in substantial hindrance to law enforcement.”

Last month, Meer claimed the arrest of his stepson on drug charges was politically motivated.